[b][center]-=-=Invidia, the Liaison=-=-[/center][/b]

In a solemn silence, the band of monks walked through the forest.  The only path they followed was once worn into the grass by the passing of feet, for no true road connected the lands of mankind and the dominion of the Cimex.  It had not been human toes and shoes that trod on this grass, however; these robed but sleeveless men, most of their faces obscured by masks of wood, were the first people to walk this path in a long time, and the first ever to walk it brazenly.  They strode softly, as if ghosts, only faintly rustling the dull green blades beneath their feet.  Beneath the night sky their bodies were shrouded in darkness despite the starry vault of heaven.  In fact, their most betraying aspect, and the one that caused woodland animals to shy away from them in muted fear, was their scent...a sickly sweet smell, enough to make a man sick.

That aroma wafted through the trees, causing mandibles to gnash, chitinous claws to grind together, and telepathic signals to fly through the branches.  Though the creatures of Vowzra and Escre shrank back from the grim parade, the wrathful presences gathering now in the shadows around the traveled path were no children of the gods of creation.  They knew not the value of life, only that this land belonged to them and them alone.  Their fury mounted as the strangely-garbed intruders delved further into their territory until, all at once, the Cimex burst from the treeline.

Their hateful, brutal cries signaled that it was time for the Sanguine Communion to go to work.

From their backs, beneath their cloaks, the monks removed axes.  They were crafted of fire-tempered Cimex chitin, of sharpened Dyun bone, and of the teeth of a Devourer Fish washed up from the sea.  As the Cimex approached, the monks calmly assembled their weapons, plugging in additional sticks, bones, or blades to make hatchets, battleaxes, war-axes, and poleaxes.  The two sides met, and the slaughter began.

No matter how hard the Cimex fought, their foes just wouldn't die.  Though their claws raked across the humans' bodies and drew from them vast amounts of blood, they never seemed to run out.  A human seemingly mortally wounded and gushing blood would fall back, remove a reddened sponge from a pocket or bag, and crush it against their his or her upper arm.  After that, the wound repaired itself, and the monk was fighting once again.  The tide turned against the Cimex quickly, especially when one human consumed a larger-than-usual sponge and swelled to twice his original height.  The insectoid warriors turned to flea, content in the knowledge at least that they'd be able to pass on their knowledge, and that their species would eventually evolve to overcome this new threat.

Invidia, garbed and masked, pulled his own hatchet from the husk of a Cimex and pointed it at the fleeing bugs.  [i]”No survivors.”[/i]

Immediately, two of the monks doubled over, in apparent agony.  A moment later they exploded in showers of blood, and in their place stood beings not quite human.  Their arms and legs were longer, and tipped with huge claws of keratin that could splinter a tree.  Their heads were larger, and with elongated jaws, crushing fangs, and fishy eyes.  Patches of scales had grown on parts of their skin, and they were much taller, though hunched over.  With a blood-curdling [url=http://soundcli.ps/sound/622/Screaming%20Monster]cry[/url], they dashed off in pursuit.  There would be no record of this encounter among the Cimex, just as there hadn't been for all the other times.

The monks of the Sanguine Communion cleaned their weapons and dissembled them.  Some minutes later, when two more returned from the woods in human shape once more, the entire group started back the way they'd come.  

[b][center]-=-=-[/center][/b]

An hour later, they had returned to the Tabernacle, where the Sanguine Communion was based.  Its spacious ground floor, whose tiles were decorated with images of creatures, whether real or nightmare, and were littered with people seeking shelter and care.  Small doses of the lifeblood upon which the Sanguine Communion thrived were sufficient to heal the wounds of humans without any additional effects.  Pushing through the huge doors, the monks entered with Invidia at their head.  Many bowed as the squadron of the Communion's nameless army moved past, but they monks coveted no hero worship, for they knew they weren't heroes.  Blood, though thicker than water and not as easily tainted, needed to be kept free of such corruptions as pride and vanity, else it would become corrupt, and Invidia had worked hard to make sure no corruptions took weed in the garden he'd made.  This was only one of the reasons why in the past years the Sanguine Communion had flourished.

The ordinary men and women moved to the side as the final monk, the one whose size had doubled in the fight, made his way in.  Though treated with terror some time ago, these ' giants' weren't a terribly uncommon sight in the Sanguine Communion.  Despite their size and strength, they maintained their humanity well, though the few who had families and homes prior to becoming monks seldom returned.  Invidia always regarded them with pride, for they, having grown giant from overdose of lifeblood, best embodied fidelity to the Sanguine Communion.  The disguised outsider led the monks up the stairs to the second level, where they'd put away their weapons and robes for mending and cleaning.

Leaving them behind, he ventured alone onto an outside balcony, closed the adjoining door, and waited beneath the moon.  In short order, the darkness moved, and a black shape appeared beside him, one with a huge orange eye.  [i]”Grave news and great news, Liaison.  The Uri have indeed bloomed, their civilization strong.  A counsel of seven leads them, and between them one is King.  They surround their cities in metal, and their sovereignty is a glorious one.  Their lack of care, however, has proven mightily bad.  The Cimex have emulated them, growing more powerful, and last I saw their scattered forces are beginning to unite into one...an invasion army.  They have a dozen soldiers for every one of the Sanguine Communion.”[/i]

Invidia stiffened.  [i]”Each of our monks is worth more than a dozen of those insects.  But we cannot be everywhere at once, it is true.  We may not be able to singlehandedly defeat them...but we can serve as a rallying point for those who will.  I will send emissaries to the kings of Man and Uri, and inform them of the coming threat.  The armies of two races, with the monks of the Sanguine Communion to lead them and heal them, will crush the Cimex like the insects they are.  I will make contact with the Great Spirit to ensure that none of the High Ones interfere.  Go, brother, and spread word through the outsiders in every village, hamlet, and city.  Tell them to embrace the blood of the Great Spirit and prepare for the coming fight.”[/i]